We gather around the tv tonight to watch primary returns and college basketball.

8:00PM I’m doing my post-workout stretches and watching the primary returns. Obama’s got Vermont and winning in Texas; Clinton’s leading in Ohio.

8:32PM I’m just out of the shower and back in front of the tv. Primary off and basketball on. Ohio State and #15 Purdue in OT. Ohio State up 74-72 with 58 seconds to go. At 28 seconds, Ohio St. scores a deuce and goes up 76-72. Ten seconds later, Purdue hits the trey ball and it’s a one-point game 76-75. Ohio State ball, Purdue fouls, and two free throws put Ohio State up 78-75. Purdue can’t convert the three on the other end, and Ohio State rebounds. Another foul = two more free throws to put Ohio State up 80-75.

Snacky’s in my ear yelling at the tv “Storm the court, you better storm the court.” One more deuce for Purdue, but Ohio wins 80-77. It’s an upset and a big win for a rebuilding Ohio State program. No court storming, though.

8:38PM Back to the primaries. Clinton’s got Rhode Island and still ahead in Ohio. Obama’s still ahead in Texas, but not by as much. Ohio and Texas will be close.

Now the CNN talking heads are talking about the importance of the “white male vote.” The white boys in Ohio are swinging for Hillary tonight.

Wolf Blitzer just announced the “breaking news” that McCain won the GOP nomination as the Texas delegates pushed his count over the top. Didn’t see that one coming. Not at all. And guess who’s gonna endorse McCain? President Bush. Just one exciting moment after another for the Republicans tonight.

8:50PM Time for McCain to start his “victory” speech. Yawn. Back to basketball.

8:51PM The KState Beasleys are playing Colorado in Bramlage on their Senior Night. Does KState they have seniors? Who are they? Who cares! The first half is almost over and Mike B. already has 20 points and 7 rebounds.

8:55PM OK I guess they do have seniors. We just got a replay of Clent Stewart proposing to his girlfriend, now fiancee, during the pre-game senior night festivities. I stand corrected.

Ever since Ian Johnson proposed to his girl after Boise State popped Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, I’ve been a sappy sucker for love theatrics. Go Clent!

Flash back to Texas Tech’s nightmare last night in Allen Fieldhouse last night against the Jayhawks. Now THAT was a senior night. The ‘Hawks sent their five seniors out with a bang.

8:59PM For some reason we’re back to McCain and actually listening. Or trying to listen– I feel like I’m being hypnotized. I have a sneaking suspicion that McCain operatives are planted in the audience to start up one of those lethargic cheers when McCain pauses, goes silent and looks expectantly at his audience, with his wife, Patriot Barbie, standing ever smilingly at his side

9:05PM Are they really playing Johnny B. Goode as McCain walks off stage? Which Wolf just referred to as “Go Johnny Go.” And I know he’s old enough to know better.

9:06PM Back to “the best political team on television.” Texas is getting closer with Obama carrying 50% and Clinton carrying 48% of the primary vote so far. Now the caucuses have begun and people are reportedly coming out in record numbers — so many that there aren’t enough ballots for all of them. Now there’s a way to piss off the voters.

Even with a win in Texas, Clinton can’t win the delegate numbers — And if Clinton doesn’t flat-out win in Texas, CNN talking head Bernstein is saying Clinton will have to go so negative on Obama that the superdelegates will reject him. Make something nasty stick.

9:21PM Back to the KState game. KState was up by 17 at one time. Not so now. A 3-ball by Roby just put Colorado within 3 points. Beasley hits a jumper on the other end and the lead is five now, 47-42. There’s no kryptonite for that superman. But there’s plenty of kryptonite to go around for the rest of the Wildkitties. Witness last Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse, where the Jayhawks got their inevitable revenge even as Beasley scored 39 points. Kstate and Colorado could go down to wire like Obama and Clinton in the red dirt of Texas.

9:28PM Back to the CNN commentary. Ohio is tighter, and still waiting for Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus to come in. Urban areas = black voters = Obama votes. Power to the people. Texas is neck and neck, with 49% of the vote for both now. This is gonna be a long night, or, as Wolf just informed us twice, a “nail-biter.”

I’m trying to generate a little family discussion about the primaries, but all I’m getting out of Quent is local high school social commentary along the lines of “I can’t believe that fool got in the Kappa party.” While she stretches on the floor in front of the fireplace.

Ant is practicing his handles in the kitchen, so I’m typing away to the beat of a basketball on stone tiles.

“Hey, Ant, you know Obama likes to ball, right?”

Dribble, dribble, dribble. “Cool. And he’s gonna be the first black president.”

I try ask Quent what she thinks. “Lemme stretch, Bro.” Bro? “I’m tryna get my body hard, that’s what I’m tryin to do.” Okey dokey.

Dribble, dribble, dribble. I haven’t heard anything on tv for the last ten minutes.

Snacky’s disappeared into his lair upstairs.

So much for generating political discussion.

9:50PM Back to the KState/Colorado game. KState up by 13 (69-56)with under 3 minutes to go. OK, so more like McCain and Huckabee in Texas than Obama and Clinton. I’ll project a winner here: KState.

Or not? All of a sudden it’s 69-63, with Colorado creeping up. KState hasn’t scored in the last two minutes. Until I wrote those words — Beasley just hit two free throws to put Kstate up 71-63. CU’s Roby answers quickly on the other end, with a jumper and the game’s back within 6 points. 71-65. It’s under a minute and Colorado’s gonna foul. Not really wanting to watch the final seconds, but here’s the final score: Kstate 78-Colorado 72. The first win for the Wildkitties in five games. Meow.

10:31PM Clinton wins Ohio.. The Clinton camp is presenting this win as a BIG one for her. She’s leading slightly in the Texas primary. No news on the Texas caucuses yet. I might have to cash it in before all is said and done in the lone star state. Reasons for the Clinton camp to be nervous in Texas (other than the fact that even winning it won’t give her a lead over Obama)? Dallas County, Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), Harris County (Houston) — all with only a small percentage of returns in AND all heavily favoring Obama. No love for Hil in the Hoods.

10:38PM Obama and Michelle O. coming out on stage and Obama speaking in San Antonio.

10:40PM Snacky reappears, does some pushups and asks who’s winning the Democratic primaries.

10:44PM Ant’s listening to Obama and playing his PSP. “Listen to him. He’s a beast. Barack is a beast.” “He is just straight-up mic’in.”

When Obama said “we need to put a book in our kids’ hands instead of a video game,” Ant says “He sounds like you, Dad,” as he clicks away on his PSP.

10:53PM Obama says “God bless America” and Ant says “I say, Yes we can.”

10:55PM I’m thinking it’s time for the kids to go to bed.

Updates tomorrow.